The
instructions for this mini - lighted ball are the same as for the
basic sparkle ball with just a few exceptions. The photos show full-size
cups, but for the mini you'll be using the little cups. |
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1 |
Poke one
hole (approx 1/2 in) through the bottom of all 50 cups.
For
the mini, it's one hole per light. But if you're using 70 lights, say,
then poke 2 holes in 20 cups, to help you keep track.
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2 |
Arrange
12 cups in a circle.
Join each
cup to its neighbor at the cup bottoms. Press the hot iron
through the bottom-edges of two cups at once. A joint forms as it cools.
Once
the ring is made, strengthen it by melting another hole from inside
each cup, near the base, into its neighbor.
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3 |
The next
layer has 9 cups. Build this ring on top of the first, one cup at a
time.
Join each
cup to at least two neighbors-- working from the inside and close to
the bottom.
There may
be small gaps between some of the cups in the second ring.
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4 |
Fit the
last 4 cups into the space left. Once they're all in place, then
join them. Work close to the cup bottoms and attach each cup to
as many others as you can.
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5 |
At this
point, I reinforce the half by melting a notch wherever cup rims touch.
(This is optional. )
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6
mini-cups have 1
or 2 lights
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TEST
THE LIGHTS BEFORE YOU THREAD THEM.
To thread lights: start at the prong end. Insert the first light closest
to the prong into a cup at the outside rim. (The plug will then hang
out when you put the two halves together.)
Put
one (or two) lights in each cup. Work your way around the ball half,
zigzaging from outer cups to inner cups and back. You want to end up
on the outer rim, at the cup next to one you started with.
Work
slowly, careful not to skip a cup or miss a light. If you crack a cup,
that's ok.
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7 |
Set aside
the completed half. Build the second half just like you did the first.
(Steps 1 - 5)
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8 |
On the second
half, insert lights working from the opposite end (the beginning end.
Start with any cup but make sure you finish at the outer rim.
The last
lights will be the hardest to insert as you juggle the two halves.
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9 |
Press the
two halves together, making them fit nicely. When you join them-- be
careful not to burn the lights or wire.
On
the mini-sparkleball, you may have to compress the wires tightly before
you put the halves together.
Go over
the sparkleball, making sure each cup is joined to at least two other
cups.
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10 |
Make a hanger
for the sparkleball. I use a bit of chain and two "s" hooks.
But you can also use clear fishing line or wire.
Attach the
hanger through a hole that goes between two cups and forms a solid bond.
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11
See tons
more sparkleballs. Click here for photos from
all over the U.S. and Canada.
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Plug in
and enjoy!
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